Residents of Decorah and the surrounding area can join Vesterheim’s Scandinavian literature series from home this fall when the museum presents an online discussion of Henrik Ibsen’s 1884 play The Wild Duck. The free Bokprat program is scheduled for 7 to 8:15 p.m. Central time Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.
Advance registration through Vesterheim’s event page is required. After registering, attendees can add the program to Google Calendar, iCalendar, Outlook 365 or Outlook Live.
How Decorah-area residents can attend
The museum’s event page will provide the information needed to enter the Zoom conversation. Because those access details may be updated, participants should return to the page shortly before the 7 p.m. start instead of relying only on information saved during registration.
The discussion is entirely online, so participants will not need to travel to Vesterheim’s museum in Decorah. People throughout the area can take part from home.
What the discussion will explore
First published in 1884, The Wild Duck follows the Ekdal family after its fragile peace is disrupted by Gregers Werle, an idealist determined to expose hidden truths. The play examines the relationship between an idealistic son and his corrupt merchant father.
As Werle attempts to rescue the people around him, his father’s duplicity is revealed. The effort ultimately harms the people Werle hopes to help, pushing the family toward a deeper unraveling.
That conflict gives the Bokprat conversation several possible themes, including deception, betrayal and disillusionment in modern life. The drama combines serious and comic elements, including comedy and satire. Vesterheim describes the work as realistic, while literary scholars have also connected it with symbolism.
The play is regarded as the first modern masterpiece in the tragicomedy genre. Participants may also discuss the family conflict and how humor, satire and tragedy operate together.
Part of Vesterheim’s Bokprat series
The October meeting is part of Bokprat, Vesterheim’s recurring online book group focused on Scandinavian authors and Scandinavian life. The museum announced the program in August 2026.
Anyone planning to attend should register through Vesterheim’s event page and revisit it before Wednesday, Oct. 28, for the latest Zoom access information.